Stamp vending machine having knife to separate stamps

ABSTRACT

A stamp dispensing device including a stamp guide member, means to supply a continuous roll of stamps to said guide member, a stamp transporter assembly including a moveable brush member adapted to engage the perforations between individual stamps in the roll to advance the stamps through the guide member and knife means for cutting the stamps advanced through the guide member.

United States Patent Giepen [54] STAMP VENDING MACHINE HAVING KNIFE TO SEPARATE STAMPS [72] Inventor: Hubert M. Giepen, 6939 South Benneth Avenue, Chicago, 111. 60617 [22] Filed: May 18, 1970 211 App]. No.: 38,140

[52] US. Cl ..194/2, 83/167,194/57 [51] ..G07f 11/68 [58] FieldofSearch ..194/10, 57, 68, 2; 83/150,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,391,775 9/1921 Hawkins ..194/2 15] 3,655,022 1 Apr.1l,1972

1,388,627 8/1921 Zent ..194/2 3,410,383 11/1968 DeFex 194/2 2,673,133 3/1954 Koch ..221/272 X Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant ExaminerDavid A. Scherbel Attorney-McDougall, Hersh & Scott [57] ABSTRACT A stamp dispensing device including a stamp guide member, means to supply a continuous roll of stamps to said guide member, a stamp transporter assembly including a moveable brush member adapted to engage the perforations between individual stamps in the roll to advance the stamps through the guide member and knife means for cutting the stamps advanced through the guide member.

13 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEEUAPR H 1912 3, 655.022

SHEET 1 OF 4 INV ENTOR Huberi M. G'z e en 6 ggw g zzgt' y 671295 PATENTEBAPR 1 1 m2 SHEET 3 [IF 4 L |H "Ha T mm IIIILWP Ill MEQEEF mS Q Qw mvvumww PATENTEUAPR 1 1 1972 SHEET l [1F 4 w mw Ms ww m NN E

STAMP VENDING MACHINE HAVING KNIFE TO SEPARATE STAMPS This invention relates to a device for dispensing postage stamps and the like.

A variety of coin-operated stamp dispensing machines have been proposed in the prior art. Earlier devices for dispensing stamps have made use of an individually packaged stamp in a cardboard folder whereby the folder containing the stamp is ejected from the machine in response to the actuation of the coin mechanism. Devices of this type are generally unsatisfactory in that use can only be made of pre-packaged stamps, and hence such devices are incapable of being adapted to dispense stamps from a continuous roll.

Stamp dispensing machines have been proposed in which the stamps are dispensed from a roll contained in the machine. Thisis usually achieved bypro'viding a series of cams which are operated by a coin-operated slide to transport the stamps through the machine. The practice of dispensing stamps as represented by such machines has also been unsatisfactory in that, due to the lack of uniformity in the dimensions of the stamps forming the roll, such devices have frequently caused the release of a fractional number of stamps such that the user frequently obtains one-half of one stamp. In other words, stamp dispensing apparatus making use of a supply of stamps in the form of a continuous roll have been unable to distinguish between individual stamps comprising the roll. In addition, such machines have suffered from the disadvantage that they are capable of being operated when empty, whereby the user can insert a coin into the machine and yet receive no stamps.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a coin-operated stamp dispensing device to over come the aforementioned disadvantages.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a stamp dispensing device which is capable of sensing individual stamps in a roll to avoid dispensing a fractional part of a stamp.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a stamp dispensing device which is incapable of being operated when the supply of stamps in the machine is substantially exhausted.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear. hereinafter, and, for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a stamp machine embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the back of the stamp machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the device shown in FIG. 1 with the stamp tray in the open position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of the stamp dispensing device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the lines 66 of the device shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the lines 7-7 of the device shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to the view shown in FIG. 5 illustrating the various positions of the coin mechanism and the stamp transporter assembly during operation of the device;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 8 taken along the lines 9-9;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the device shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 8 taken along the lines 1 1-11;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 11 taken along the lines l2-l2; and,

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 12 taken along the lines 11-13.

The concepts of the present invention reside in a coinoperated stamp dispensing device which includes a housing, a stamp transporter assembly including a stamp guide member, a stamp transporter assembly including a brush adapted to engage the perforations between the individual stamps in the roll to advance the stamps through the guide member, coin mechanism means for actuation of the transporter assembly and a knife assembly to cut the stamps advanced through the stamp guide member from the roll.

One of the features of the present invention resides in a transporter assembly which includes a brush member having a plurality of stiff bristles which are adapted to engage the perforations of a roll of postage stamps or the like. The brush member is slidably mounted for displacement in response to actuation of the coin mechanism whereby the bristles of the brush member engage the perforations in the stamps to advance the stamps through the device into a position for cutting. Since the bristles of the brush member engage the stamps forming the roll at the perforations separating each stamp in the roll, the device is sensitive to individual stamps, independent of variations in the individual stamp sizes. Thus, the brush member of the device of the invention makes it possible to completely avoid the prior art problem of advancing a fractional part of a stamp through a device.

The brush member of the present invention is preferably formed of thin, stiff metal wires, although it will be understood that stiff fibers formed of plastic materials may also be employed. In accordance with the most preferred embodiment, the brush member is provided with a plurality of bristles, the number of which is considerably in excess of the number of perforations separating individual stamps to insure that at least some of the bristles will engage the perforations to advance the stamps to a cutting position.

Another feature of the invention resides in the stamp support assembly which feeds a continuous roll of stamps to the transporter assembly. The stamp support assembly generally comprises a guide member having slots therein dimensioned to receive the edges of the stamps to maintain the stamps in the form of a substantially flat linear position. The guide member is provided at a point with an opening extending therethrough, and with a moveable finger-like projection at the same point which is adapted to extend through the opening. Thus, when the guide member contains a stamp roll, the stamps of the roll cover the opening to prevent the projection from extending therethrough. The moveable projection is spring raised whereby the projection frictionally engaged the stamps in the guide member to prevent the stamps from being advanced through the guide member by the transporter assembly too rapidly. When there are-no stamps covering the opening in the guide member, as when the supply of stamps in the device is nearly exhausted, the spring bias means causes the projection to extend through the opening in the guide member. The projection is mounted on a retaining plate which is moveable with the projection whereby, when the projection extends through the opening, the retaining plate is moved to a position such that it prevents further actuation of the coin mechanism.

Thus, in this way, the stamp support assembly serves a dual function in that it provides for frictional engagement with the continuous roll of stamps in the device to prevent rapid advancement of the rollthrough the machine, and, at the same time, operates to lock the machine to prevent further actuation of the coin mechanism when the supply of stamps is nearly exhausted.

Still another feature of this invention resides in the knife assembly which operates to cut the desired number of stamps after they have been advanced through the guide member of the support assembly by the transporter assembly into a cutting position by actuation of the coin mechanism. The knife assembly comprises a substantially cyclindrical tray which is mounted for rotation about its axis adjacent to an end of the guide member of the support assembly. Approximately half of the cylindrical surface of the tray is open and has fixed thereto a blade member of knife element which is rotatable with the tray. Thus, when the tray is rotated, the blade member cuts the stamps protruding from the guide member and they fall into the tray. When the tray is rotated to the cutting position, the cylindrical surface thereof prevents access to the transporter assembly, to thereby prevent tamperm Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a stamp dispensing device embodying the features of the invention, which includes a housing 10 and a frame positioned in the housing which carries tray 14 of the knife assembly and a coin mechanism 16. A rear view of the device is shown in FIG. 2, in which the back 17 of housing 10 is provided with a lock to secure the frame inside the housing, and eyelet means 20 for securing the device from theft.

As shown in FIG. 4, which is a view taken along the lines 44 of FIG. I, lock 18 actuates a locking lever 26 which is adapted to engage the frame of the device to prevent the device from being opened by unauthorized persons.

A front view of the device illustrated in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 3 wherein the tray 14 is in the open position, exposing one or more stamps 22 which have been severed from the roll. As shown, the semi-cylindrical side wall 24 of tray 14 is superposed on the opening from the transporter assembly to prevent tampering with the device, as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

The internal workings of the stamp dispensing device of the present invention can best be understood by reference to FIG. 5 of the drawing, which is a side view in section of the frame 28 positioned within housing 10. As shown in this figure, frame 28 carries on the base and toward the rear a stamp roll which is maintained in position by a pair of space plates 32 (only one plate is shown in this figure) having a pin member extending therethrough, which is adapted to extend through the center of the stamp roll 30 whereby the stamp roll 30 is free to rotate about pin 34 between plates 32 as the stamps from roll 30 through the machine. Pin 34 is preferably in the form of a screw having a winged nut thereon to facilitate refilling of the machine when the supply of stamps in roll 30 is exhausted.

Spaced above stamp roll 30 and frame base 28 is the upper frame member 36 in the form of a substantially horizontal plate. Upper frame member 36 is maintained in a substantially parallel but space relationship from frame base 28 at the rear of the device by means of a pair of vertical support members 38 (only one of which is shown in the drawing), and at the front of the machine by face plate 12 and plate means 40.

Upper frame member 36 preferably is provided with two openings 42 and 44 therein which are separated from each other by a thin strip member 46 which is adapted to serve as an auxiliary support for the endless roll of stamps 30' which extends through opening 42 over strip 46 and back through opening 44 into guide member 48 of the stamp support assembly.

Guide member 48 is fixed to the lower surface of upper frame member 36 and extends toward the front of the device. Guide member 48 has a generally U-shaped cross-section and has two grooves on the opposing faces thereof through which the endless roll 30' can slide. Near the rear of the guide member there is provided an opening which extends through upper frame member 36 and guide member and which is adapted to receive a finger-like projection, which is preferably in the form of a screw.

Projection 52 is mounted on a restraining plate 54, having a substantially horizontal portion 56 and a downwardly extending portion 58 which is adapted to engage the coin mechanism to prevent operation of the device when the supply of stamps is nearly exhausted, as more fully explained hereinafter. Restraining plate 54 is pivotally mounted along one edge 60 thereof on upper frame member 36 whereby pivoting restraining plate 56 in a clockwise direction, viewing the device from face plate 12, causes projection 52 to extend through opening 50 when the opening 50 is not covered by one or more stamps from the endless roll 30. While it is not shown in the figure plate 54 is spring biased whereby the action of the spring means constantly urges projection 52 through opening 50. Thus, when the device contains a supply of stamps, opening 50 is covered by one or more stamps in the role 30' whereby projection 50 abuts the stamps and exerts a pressure thereon to prevent the roll 30 from being advancement through guide member 48 too rapidly by the stamp transporter assembly.

Positioned adjacent to the guide member 48 is a brush member comprising a base 62 and a plurality of relatively stiff bristles 64. As shown in FIG. 5, the brush is positioned so that the bristles 64 are inclined in the direction in which the stamp roll 30' is advanced through the device whereby the bristles are adapted to engage the perforations between the individual stamps comprising the roll 30'. Thus, in order to advance the stamps 30 through the guide member, the brush member is first advanced toward the rear of the machine. During this rearward movement, the bristles 64 simply slide over the surface of the stamp 30 since the bristles are displaced in a direction opposite to the direction in which the bristles are inclined. Thereafter, the brush is advanced toward the front of the machine, or in the same direction in which the bristles are inclined whereby the bristles are engaged in the perforations between the individual stamps and advance a controlled number of stamps through guide member 48.

The number of stamps advanced in this manner can easily be controlled by the distance which the brush is displaced in both directions. In order to insure that the bristles will become engaged with the perforations between the stamps, it is preferred to provide a brush having a number of bristles which greatly exceeds the number of perforations between the stamps. As pointed out above, the bristles are preferably formed of a relatively stiff material. For this purpose, use is preferably made of steel bristles, although it will be understood that use can also be made of synthetic materials, such as plastics or the like, which have the desired stiffness.

Displacement of the brush in both directions is effected by the coin mechanism 16. The coin mechanism is conventional type and includes a sliding member 66 which is adapted to slide in a direction parallel with the plane of the figure when the appropriate coins have been inserted in the slots provided. The end of the sliding member is provided with a flange 68 which is adapted to be engaged with the brush 62.

As shown in FIG. 5, the brush 62 is fixed to a brush support 70 which is slidably engaged with guide member 48. Brush support member 70 includes a pair of spaced arms 72 and 74 extending downwardly toward glange 68 with flange 68 extending therebetween whereby flange 68 is adapted to abut arm 72 to effect rearward displacement of the brush support 70 and brush 64 and arm 74 to effect forward displacement of brush 64 and its support member 70. Arms 72 and 74 are preferably spaced from each other by a distance equal to the distance through which the sliding member 66 and flange 68 when no coins have been inserted into the coin mechanism.

Thus, in the operation of the device, an appropriate coin or coins are inserted into the coin mechanism by the user and the operating lever 76 of the coin mechanism 16 is pushed inwardly, thereby causing slide member 66 and flange 68 to be displaced toward the rear of the device. As flange 68 is displaced rearwardly, it contacts arm 72 of brush support member 70, thereby displacing brush support 70 and brush 64 rearwardly. Thereafter, operating level is pulled in a forward direction whereby flange 68 is displaced in a forward direction and contacts arm 74 to displace brush support 70 and brush 64 to thereby advance the stamp roll 30 through guide member 48.

As the stamps 30' are advanced through guide member 48 in response to actuation of the brush 64 by the coin mechanism, they are advanced through an opening 78 formed in shearing plate 40 forming part of the knife assembly. The knife assembly generally includes a tray 14 formed by circular side walls 80 and a semi-cylindrical side wall 82. Tray 14 is mounted for rotation about an axis extending through the center of circular walls 80. In the closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the semi-cylindrical wall 82 prevents access to the interior of tray 14, and is spring biased in the closed position by spring means.

Fixed to the lower portion of side wall 80 of tray 14 and adjacent opening 78 in curved plate 40 is a knife element. As tray 14 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow, the knife element 86 is displaced along shearing plate 40 which has a curvature corresponding to the path of travel of the knife element past opening 78 through which the stamps advanced through guide member 48 to shear off the stamps extending through opening 78 in plate 40. The stamps simply fall into tray 14 and can be removed by the purchaser from the tray 14 which is in the open position. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, when tray 14 is rotated to the open position, semi-circular wall 82 of tray 14 covers opening 78 from guide member 48 to thereby prevent tampering with the end of the stamp roll 30 which is flush with plate 40. Similarly, in order to prevent contact with the knife element 86 the opening in the faceplate 12 for tray 14 includes a deflector plate 85 which extends inwardly to the interior of tray 14 between the interior of tray 14 and the knife element when the tray is in an open position.

The means for holding the stamp roll 30' described in reference to FIG. 5 can best be seen in FIG. 7. As shown in this figure, the stamp roll 30 is maintained between plates 32 and is mounted for rotation to unroll when the stamps 30 are advanced through the device about screw means 34, which, as indicated above, may be secured by means of a winged nut 88.

The relation among the various elements of the knife assembly can best be seen by reference to FIG. 6, which illustrates the position of the elements when the tray 14 is in the closed position. As shown in this figure, the generally circular side walls 80 of tray 14 are supported by flange supports 90 which may be fixed to face plate 12, and mounted for rotation by screw means 92. Tray 14 is spring biased in a closed position by means of one or more spring means 84 whereby tray 14 is constantly urged toward a closed position after actuation of the knife assembly. This figure illustrates that, in the closed position of tray 14, the knife element 86 is positioned below opening 78 through which stamps 30 are advanced to the cutting position.

FIG. 8, which is a side view similar to that shown in FIG. 5, illustrates the extreme positions which can be taken by sliding member 66 and flange 68 of coin mechanism 16, and the corresponding positions of arms 72 and 74 and brush support 70. As described above, after insertion of the appropriate coin or coins into coin mechanism 16, the device is actuated by pushing operating lever in a rearwardly position relative to the device whereby the brush support member 70 is displaced rearwardly. The rearward position is shown in FIG 8 by means of broken lines and by the use of a prime on the reference numerals for the respective elements.

As shown, sliding member 66 is in an extended rearward position, with flange 68 in abutting relation with arm 72 which has caused brush support 70' to be displaced rearwardly.

As also indicated above, the stamps are advanced through guide member 48 (not shown in this figure) as the brush support 70 and hence brush 64 are displaced forwardly. The most forward positions of these elements are illustrated by means of solid lines and regular reference numerals in FIG. 8. Thus, operating lever 76 is fully extended outwardly whereby flange 68 on sliding member 66 is in abutting relation with arm 74 and brush support 70 is adjacent to the end of guide member 48 and adjacent to curved plate 40 a forward position.

FIG. 8 also illustrates the effect of the absence of a roll of stamps 30' in the guide member 48. As indicated above, when guide member contains no stamps to cover opening 50 extending through guide member 48 and upper frame 36, projection 52, spring biased so as to be constantly urged upwardly, passes at least partially into opening 50, plate 54 including triangular portion 58 is displaced downwardly and inwardly toward flange 68 whereby the base 94 of portion 58 is in abutting relation with flange 68 to prevent actuation of sliding member 66 and thus coin mechanism 16 when plate 54 pivots toward opening 50. In this way, when the supply of stamps in the device of the invention becomes exhausted and the last stamp has been advanced over opening 50 in guide member 48, projection 52 is urged toward opening 50 and plate 54 is pivoted so as to position the lower base portion 94 thereof adjacent to flange 68 to prevent further operation of the dispensing device. This locking feature of the device of the invention is completely automatic, and need not be set by an attendant or the like.

The pivotal action of plate 54 is further illustrated in FIG. 9 of the drawings, wherein the positions of projection 52 and horizontal portion 56 of plate 54 when guide member 48 contains sufficient stamps to cover opening 50 and prevent projection 52 from extending therein are shown in solid lines, and the corresponding positions of projection 52' and horizontal portion 56' when opening 50 is not covered by stamps whereby projection 52' extends into opening. As shown in this figure, plate 54 is pivotally mounted about a hinge or pin 96 fixed to upper frame member 36. The spring means, while not illustrated in the drawing, may be conveniently provided as part of the hinge 96 in a conventional manner.

The locking action of restraining plate 54 relative to flange 68 of sliding member 66 is further illustrated in FIG. 11 of the drawings, wherein 94 in solid lines indicates the position of the base of plate 54 when guide member 48 contains a sufficient number of stamps to cover opening 50 whereby penetration of projection 52 through opening 50 is prevented by the stamps covering opening 50. However, when the supply of stamps in the machine becomes depleted to the extent that there are no stamps to cover opening 50, plate 54 is caused to pivot by the spring biasing means of hinge 96 in the direction shown by the arrow to the position illustrated by the broken lines whereby the base 94' of plate 54' prevents movement of flange 68 and hence sliding member 66 of coin mechanism 16.

FIG. 11 also illustrates the sliding engagement of brush support 70 with guide member 48. As shown in this figure, support member 48 has a generally U-shaped cross section and is defined by a base 98 and a pair of spaced parallel arms 100. Each of the arms 100 define a groove 102 on the internal surfaces thereof which are adapted to receive the edges of stamps 30' in sliding relation whereby one surface of the stamp roll 30 is in substantial surface contact with the interior surface of base 98 and the other surface of the stamps is exposed to the bristles 64 of brush 62 positioned below base 98 to permit engagement of bristles 64 with the perforations between the individual stamps.

Each of the arms 100 are also provided with a groove 104 which is adapted to receive an edge of brush support 70 in sliding engagement. As illustrated in FIG. 11, brush support generally has a trapezoidal-shaped cross section. The upper, substantially horizontal edges 106 of support member are adapted to be received in grooves 104 whereby brush support 70 is supported below base 98 of guide member 48 by the sliding engagement of edges 106 with grooves 104 in response to actuation of coin mechanism 16.

It is frequently desirable to provide bearing means to insure smooth operation of the machine with respect to displacement of brush support 70 relative to guide member 48. For this purpose, use can be made of a pair of bearings 108 in the form of spheres extending through suitable openings in upper frame 36 so as to abut edges 106 of the brush support 70. If desired, the surface of edges 106 can be provided with a pair of openings 1 10 at a point corresponding to the starting position of brush support 70 which serve to prevent slippage of brush support 70 relative to guide member 48, Bearings 108 are constantly urged toward the surfaces 106 of brush support 70 by means of a flexible plate 112, as illustrated in FIGS. 8, 10, 11 and 12, which is fixed to upper frame 36 by fastening means 114.

The operation of the knife assembly and its relation to brush 62 are most clearly shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 of the drawing. As illustrated in these figures, curved shearing plate 40 having opening 78 therein is positioned adjacent to the forward end of guide member 48 whereby, as the continuous series of stamps 30 are advanced through guide member 48, they are advanced through opening 78 into the interior of tray 14 and below deflector plate 85. The displacement of brush 64 is controlled so that, at the completion of a cycle in which operating lever 76 of coin mechanism 16 is first pushed rearwardly and then pulled forwardly, the stamps 30' are in a position such that a perforated section separating two individual stamps is substantially flush with the interior surface of tray 14 as defined in shearing plate 40. In this way, as tray 14 is rotated in the direction indicated in the drawing by actuation of handle l5, knife element shears off the stamps at a point corresponding to the perforations 31 to assure that the machine will always dispense a complete stamp, and not a fractional part thereof.

Thus, it will be apparent from the foregoing description that I have provided. a new and improved device for dispensing postage stamps and the like from a roll. The device of the present invention is capable, by virtue of the transporter assembly including the brush, of distinguishing between individual stamps in a continuous roll whereby the problem of the delivery of a fractional part of a stamp to the user is completely avoided. In addition, the dispensing machine of the present invention provides virtually fool-proof means for locking the device to prevent further operation thereof after the supply of stamps in the roll is nearly exhausted.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction or use without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the following claims.

lclaim:

l. A stamp dispensing device comprising a stamp guide member, means to supply a continuous roll of stamps to said guide member, stamp transporter assembly means including a brush member, said brush member being moveable relative to said guide member and being adapted to engage the perforations between stamps in the roll to advance stamps through said guide member, knife means for cutting stamps advanced through said guide member coin mechanism means to move said brush member to advance stamps through said guide member, and means to prevent actuation of said coin mechanism when the supply of stamps in the device is substantially exhausted including an opening through said guide member, a projection adapted to enter said opening and a spring-biased, pivotable restraining plate, said plate carrying said projection whereby said projection extends through said opening when said opening is not covered by stamps in said guide member thereby causing said plate to pivot to a position preventing further actuation of said coin mechanism means.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said brush member is inclined in the direction in which the stamps are advanced through said guide member whereby displacement of the brush in the opposite direction does not result in the displacement of the stamps.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said stamp transporter assembly includes a brush support member, said brush support member being slidable engaged with said guide member and carrying said brush member, and means to engage said coin mechanism means to displace said support member and said brush relative to said guide member upon actuation of said coin mechanism means.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said coin mechanism means includes a moveable sliding member and a flange, said flange being moveable with said sliding member and being adapted to engage said coin mechanism means.

5. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said means to engage said coin mechanism means includes a pair of opposing spaced arms adapted to envelop said flange whereby one of said arms abuts said flange during rearward movement of said flange and said sliding member and the other of said arms abuts said flange upon forward movement of said flange and said sliding member.

6. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said arms are spaced by a distance equal to the distance through which said flange and said sliding member can be displaced without the insertion of appropriate coins into said coin mechanism.

7. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said guide member includes a base and a pair of opposing said arms, the interior surfaces of said arms defining grooves adapted to receive the edges of a continuous roll of stamps whereby said stamps are maintained in flat face to face relation with said base.

8. A device as defined in claim 7 wherein the exterior surfaces of said arms define grooves adapted to receive the edges of said stamp support member in sliding engagement therewith.

. 9. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said knife assembly includes a traymounted for rotation about an axis, said tray comprising a pair of side walls and a semi-cylindrical wall for rotation with said tray and a shearing plate, said shearing plate having an opening therethrough adapted to receive stamps advanced through said guide member whereby said tray is rotated causing said knife blade to shear off stamps extending through said opening.

10. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein said opening is adjacent to one end of said guide member.

11. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein said shearing plate has a curved configuration corresponding to the path of said knife blade as it rotates with said tray.

12. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein knife assembly includes spring means constantly urging said tray toward a closed position.

13. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein said semi-cylindrical wall covers said opening when said tray is rotated about said axis to an open position. 

1. A stamp dispensing device comprising a stamp guide member, means to supply a continuous roll of stamps to said guide member, stamp transporter Assembly means including a brush member, said brush member being moveable relative to said guide member and being adapted to engage the perforations between stamps in the roll to advance stamps through said guide member, knife means for cutting stamps advanced through said guide member coin mechanism means to move said brush member to advance stamps through said guide member, and means to prevent actuation of said coin mechanism when the supply of stamps in the device is substantially exhausted including an opening through said guide member, a projection adapted to enter said opening and a springbiased, pivotable restraining plate, said plate carrying said projection whereby said projection extends through said opening when said opening is not covered by stamps in said guide member thereby causing said plate to pivot to a position preventing further actuation of said coin mechanism means.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said brush member is inclined in the direction in which the stamps are advanced through said guide member whereby displacement of the brush in the opposite direction does not result in the displacement of the stamps.
 3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said stamp transporter assembly includes a brush support member, said brush support member being slidable engaged with said guide member and carrying said brush member, and means to engage said coin mechanism means to displace said support member and said brush relative to said guide member upon actuation of said coin mechanism means.
 4. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said coin mechanism means includes a moveable sliding member and a flange, said flange being moveable with said sliding member and being adapted to engage said coin mechanism means.
 5. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said means to engage said coin mechanism means includes a pair of opposing spaced arms adapted to envelop said flange whereby one of said arms abuts said flange during rearward movement of said flange and said sliding member and the other of said arms abuts said flange upon forward movement of said flange and said sliding member.
 6. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said arms are spaced by a distance equal to the distance through which said flange and said sliding member can be displaced without the insertion of appropriate coins into said coin mechanism.
 7. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said guide member includes a base and a pair of opposing said arms, the interior surfaces of said arms defining grooves adapted to receive the edges of a continuous roll of stamps whereby said stamps are maintained in flat face to face relation with said base.
 8. A device as defined in claim 7 wherein the exterior surfaces of said arms define grooves adapted to receive the edges of said stamp support member in sliding engagement therewith.
 9. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said knife assembly includes a tray mounted for rotation about an axis, said tray comprising a pair of side walls and a semi-cylindrical wall for rotation with said tray and a shearing plate, said shearing plate having an opening therethrough adapted to receive stamps advanced through said guide member whereby said tray is rotated causing said knife blade to shear off stamps extending through said opening.
 10. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein said opening is adjacent to one end of said guide member.
 11. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein said shearing plate has a curved configuration corresponding to the path of said knife blade as it rotates with said tray.
 12. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein knife assembly includes spring means constantly urging said tray toward a closed position.
 13. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein said semi-cylindrical wall covers said opening when said tray is rotated about said axis to an open position. 